New National Data Shows Megi Health's High-Risk Doula Certification Closes Knowledge Gaps in Preeclampsia Care

Score variability across the doula workforce fell 53% after certification — proof of consistent, not just higher, high-risk pregnancy knowledge.

CHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES, September 10, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Megi Health, a clinically-validated platform for maternal cardiovascular health, today released the results of a national Training Impact Report measuring knowledge gains among doulas who completed its High-Risk Doula Certification.

The company has now trained hundreds of doulas across 40 states and this report measures pre- and post-certification results for a cohort of 347 of them. The program, recognized by the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) and providing 29 continuing education (CE) credits trains birth doulas and perinatal support professionals to recognize, support and escalate hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), a leading and largely preventable cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States.

Drawing on matched pre- and post-certification assessments from this cohort of 347 doulas across 35 states and Washington, D.C., the report found that average HDP knowledge scores rose from 77.6% to 92.7%, and the share of doulas scoring at a “high proficiency” level (85% or above) more than doubled, from 32.6% to 83.6%. Relative variability in scores across the workforce — a measure of how consistently doulas are trained, independent of the average, fell by 53.4%.

The gains were most pronounced in recognizing abnormal and potentially dangerous blood pressure readings: before certification, just over half of participants (53.6%) correctly identified 145/101 mmHg as a value requiring prompt clinical follow-up during pregnancy. After certification, 99.2% did.

“These are not just statistics — they are lives. The warning signs of preeclampsia are so often dismissed as normal pregnancy symptoms: headaches, swelling, vomiting. What this data really shows is how many doulas are doing an excellent job and are hungry for more education — we've trained hundreds of doulas, and the 347 we measured completed a rigorous, six-week curriculum, with scores that prove they took it seriously. Doulas are frequently the most consistent presence in a birthing person's life, and our role is to pair that dedication with the right digital tools so they can act on what they know. ” said Nina Sesto, CEO and Co-Founder, Megi Health.

The release follows new guidance from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), which in August 2026 issued its first formal recommendation that OB-GYNs understand doulas' role in care and build collaborative care teams including them. This report demonstrates that with training to standardise knowledge, doulas can become a vital part of the safety net ensuring pregnant women recognize warning signs and seek medical care in a timely fashion. This matters enormously in the context of the maternal health crisis: as preventable maternal mortality and morbidity continue to disproportionately affect Black and marginalized women, doulas, who are often already embedded in the communities most at risk, represent an underutilized but high-potential lever for change.

About Megi High Risk Doula Certification

The Megi High-Risk Doula Certification is a six-week program equipping doulas to provide support for high-risk pregnant women from pre-conceptual through postpartum recovery with a particular focus on hypertensive disorders, including detailed understanding of blood pressure in pregnancy, pre-eclampsia and longer-term cardiovascular health. It was built and validated by a global faculty of 25+ maternal-health experts spanning obstetrics, cardiology, and perinatal mental health, and awards 29 continuing education credits.
The full Training Impact Report is available at https://megi.ai/doula-certification/

About Megi Health

Megi Health is a US maternal cardiovascular health company on a mission to reduce preventable complications in high-risk pregnancy. We build the tools and training that close the gap between clinical guidelines and real-world care: remote patient monitoring that keeps high-risk patients connected to their care teams between appointments, preeclampsia detection technology that flags warning signs earlier, and workforce training that equips doulas with the clinical knowledge to recognize and respond to cardiovascular danger signs. Megi operates across the US, partnering with doulas, health systems, and payers to improve maternal cardiovascular outcomes at scale. Learn more at https://megi.ai/

Ines Knezevic
Megi Health
+33 758002846
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